GREENING THE TEA INDUSTRY IN EAST AFRICA

THE PROBLEM

Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world, after water, with an estimated 18 to 20 billion cups of tea consumed every day. Tea production in the East African Region, which contributes 28 per cent of the world market supply, is carried out in highland areas characterized by high annual rainfalls and all-season river flows. Despite these favorable conditions, optimal tea production in the industry has been hampered by unreliable, insufficient and expensive energy from the national grid system as well as by a lack of supply in remote areas. The processing of tea, which requires both electrical and thermal energy, has made it necessary for all tea factories to install backup diesel generators that are highly polluting and greenhouse gas emitting.

THE SOLUTION

UNEP launched the “Greening The Tea Industry in East Africa” (GTIE) project in 2007 to address the energy challenges facing the tea companies by transferring renewable energy technologies and knowledge to the players in the sector. The overall project aims at installing six small hydro-power plants (SHP) with a cumulative capacity of 10 MW that will generate 105,000 MWh by project end. 84,000 tons of CO2 equivalent are expected to be mitigated over the project duration and to increase to an estimated 765,000 tons over a 20 year period. UNEP established the suitability of SHP within tea estates in the countries covered by the East African Tea Trade Association and embarked on installing electricity-generating stations.
The increase in the supply and reliability of electricity to tea factories reduces the industry’s energy and production costs and ultimately increase their competitiveness in the world market. Greenhouse gases from tea factories are also reduced through green power generation. Moreover, rural electrification is enhanced through power wheeling technologies – thereby improving the livelihoods of surrounding communities.

THE IMPACTS

The GTIE project has made commendable progress on the implementation of SHP in selected countries. Kenya’s successful implementation of a 0.85 megawatt SHP is now fully operational while construction of two additional hydro power plants capable of generating 10 megawatts will commence following the completion of technical design plans. Rwanda’s construction of a 4 megawatt station is ongoing; Tanzania will embark on constructing 1.5 megawatt SHP in Suma once sufficient funds have been mobilized. Similarly, Uganda’s construction of a 1.97 megawatt SHP will begin upon identification of a suitable developer.
The project is also working with various regulatory authorities to improve the policy and operating environment, which in turn has fostered public/private partnerships in the hydro power implementation process. Progressive implementation of electricity generating stations has not only spurred interest amongst in other tea companies in investing in small hydro power but has also resulted in financial institutions developing financial products to facilitate loans to the renewable energy sector.

SUPPORT

Global Environmental Facility trust funds; African Development Bank; East African Tea Trade Association; Tea Development Agencies in Kenya Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

WEBSITES

• greeningtea.unep.org
• www.eatta.com

SUCCESS STORY

One of the success stories of the GTIE project was the commissioning of the 0.85 megawatt Tagabi small hydropower station in May 2011. The fully operational plant in Kericho, Kenya has to date saved the tea company an estimated US$613,833 and generated 6,445,277 kilowatt-hours. Further energy savings and earnings through feed-in tariffs will continue to be recorded at the station and subsequent SHP’s once operational.

Source : Re-blogged from http://www.unep.org

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MAKING THE BUILDING SECTOR CLIMATE FRIENDLY

THE PROBLEM

The building sector accounts for up to 30 per cent of global annual greenhouse gas emissions and consumes up to 40 per cent of all energy. It also provides the greatest potential for significantly cutting emissions, at low cost, in both developed and developing countries.
Collectively the building sector is responsible for about 40 per cent of global resource consumption, including 12 per cent of all fresh-water use, and produces up to 40 per cent of our solid waste. The sector is estimated to be worth 10 per cent of global GDP (USD7.5 trillion) and employs 111 million people. With urbanization increasing in the world’s most populous countries, building sustainably is essential to achieving climate mitigation and sustainable development.

THE SOLUTION

UNEP launched the Sustainable Buildings and Climate Initiative (SBCI) in 2006 to promote sustainable building and construction practices. The initiative has nearly 50 partners and collaborators representing all segments of the building sector, including contractors and developers, designers and engineers, local and national authorities, real estate companies, Green Building councils, professional associations and other non-governmental organizations. UNEP-SBCI draws on UNEP’s capacity to provide a global platform for collective action, utilizing its network and partnerships to develop reports, tools, and methodologies to promote sustainable building policies and practices.
Tools developed by UNEP-SBCI include:

• the Common Carbon Metric (CCM), a protocol for measuring energy consumption and calculating greenhouse gas emissions from building operations that is intended to meet international Measurable, Reportable, and Verifiable (MRV) standards
• the Quick Scan Policy Tool, developed in conjunction with the Central European University as an online platform for policymakers to assess their policy environment and develop policy packages to strengthen sustainable building practices in their jurisdictions.
• “State of Play” reports on sustainable buildings in India, France, several countries in Southeast Asia and more data-intensive “Baseline Emission and Reduction Potential” reports for South Africa and Mexico, with more reports in progress for the United States and Colombia.

THE IMPACTS

The work of UNEP-SBCI, including the initiative’s tools and strategies is informing policy-making worldwide. The Common Carbon Metric (CCM) has become the basis for a new international standard to measure the climate impact of building operations currently being developed by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). This effort will result in a better understanding of energy consumption and GHG emissions from buildings, and provide a globally applicable methodology for measurement and reporting. UNEP has incorporated the CCM in a project proposal to assist governments in Asia to develop Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMA) for the building sector.

SUPPORT

Private sector companies, government and local authorities, non-governmental organizations and research institutions organizations, including the Central European University, the Gulf Organization for Research and Development in Qatar, the Institute for Industrial Sciences at the University of Tokyo, the T.C. Chan Center for Building Simulation and Energy Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Center for a Sustainable Built Environment at New York University; Governments of Norway and Finland.

WEBSITE

• www.unep.org/sbci

SUCCESS STORY

In Malaysia, the Ministry of Energy Green Technology and Water has adopted the CCM tool for the building component of its Low Carbon Cities Framework and Assessment System (LCCF), applying it to buildings in Cyberjaya and with future plans to apply it in four other townships in Malaysia. The CCM assists in establishing a baseline so that the effectiveness of retrofits and policy interventions can be effectively measured.

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